[markomalley]

Where I live is pretty close to the beach and so the soil is almost completely sand. For growing non-indeginous vegetables, we have to incorporate a lot for water retention. Fortunately, they raise a lot of chickens here so processed poultry manure is really easy to get and cheap.

As for tips, we are recycling an old badminton net to help with our long beans (basically green beans that are about 2 feet long when done)

Also note our baby papaya tree. Should start bearing fruit in a couple of years.

Green papaya is great for making slaws. Thai recipes generally call on shredding it and mixing with a dressing with hot peppers, lime juice, garlic, and fish sauce (if fish sauce is not to your taste, I'm sure you could substitute it with some vinegar and oil. Wouldn't taste the same but would still be good).

Also some Chinese morning glory.

To cook that, it's great sauteed lightly with some chili, garlic, light oil, and Maggi (if you can't find Maggi, soy sauce would work too)

[MomwithHope]

Thanks for the beautiful pictures. You live in Thailand?? I grew a mexican paypaya from seed many years ago. In a large pot. We are in Michigan. I’d bring it in the house for fall and winter and then put it out in the spring. It got about 6’ tall, did flower but no fruit. Only one around. I wound up donating it to the local botanic gardens.